Portable hand grip

ABSTRACT

A portable hand grip for use with an exercise bar, and having a flexible pad with a first means for securing attached to a first end and a second means for securing attached to a second end such that when the flexible pad is wrapped around the exercise bar, the first means for securing is joined with the second means for securing such that the top surface of the flexible pad provides a continuous smooth surface around the bar. There is no overlapping of the first end and the second end of the flexible pad. The two ends may be secured with one or more magnets, notched teeth, or Velcro. In an alternative embodiment, the top surface of the flexible pad may have an ergonomic style of finger/palm shape, and the bottom surface may be textured to give a more secure and non-slip grip on the exercise bar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No.60/212,290, filed Jun. 19, 2000.

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] This invention relates to hand grips, and more specifically, to aportable hand grip that easily wraps around and is removed from anexercise bar.

[0005] 2. Related Art

[0006] A secure grip is extremely important when using weightliftingequipment, such as dumbbells or a weightlifting bar, because it mayprevent the user from accidently dropping the equipment. A secure gripalso allows the user to lift more weight and to increase the number ofrepetitions performed during a particular exercise.

[0007] There are several prior grips that are intended to assist a userin exercising with weightlifting equipment. For example, in U.S. Pat.No. 5,775,756 to Rozenich, a secure gripping system is disclosed that isa gripping pad wrapped around an exercise bar. The principledisadvantage with this gripping pad is that the two ends of the pad mustoverlap, thereby creating a bump or rise in the pad on the exercise bar.This overlapping is very uncomfortable to the user and may interferewith the user's lifting. In addition, the pad only uses the naturaladhesion of the pad material to hold the two ends together, therebyfurther requiring the overlapping of the two ends. Therefore, there is aneed for a hand grip or pad for use with an exercise bar wherein theends of the hand grip do not overlap.

[0008] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,444 to Castillo, a hand grip is disclosedthat has a slot extending radially through the grip to allow the grip tobe spread apart and put onto and removed from an exercise bar. Thedisadvantage with this grip is that there is no means for securing theedges of the slot together to prevent the slot from opening and fallingoff of the exercise bar. Therefore, there is a need for a hand grip orpad for use with an exercise bar wherein the edges of the hand grip aresecured together to prevent their separation during use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The hand grip of the present invention solves the problemsassociated with the prior art by providing a hand grip pad that wrapsaround an exercise bar wherein the two ends of the hand grip do notoverlap. The hand grip is a flexible pad with a first means for securingattached to a first end and a second means for securing attached to asecond end such that when the flexible pad is wrapped around theexercise bar, the first means for securing is joined with the secondmeans for securing such that the top surface of the flexible padprovides a continuous smooth surface around the bar. The two ends may besecured with one or more magnets, notched teeth, or Velcro. In analternative embodiment, the top surface of the flexible pad may have anergonomic style of finger/palm shape, and the bottom surface may betextured to give a more secure and non-slip grip on the exercise bar.

[0010] The principle advantage to using a hand grip of the presentinvention is that by eliminating the overlapping of the ends, there isno bump, or rise, in the hand grip to interfere with the user'sexercise. In addition, the hand grip will not fall off the exercise baror slip easily out of position. The hand grip is truly portable in thatit is easily put on and removed from an exercise bar, allowing a user touse a single pair of hand grips on many different types of exercisebars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0011] The present invention is described with reference to theaccompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicateidentical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-mostdigit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which thereference number first appears.

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable hand grip of thepresent invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable hand grip secured toan exercise bar;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of theportable hand grip;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a planar side drawing of the placement of hand grips ona weight bar;

[0016] FIGS. 5A-C are perspective drawings showing the different meansfor securing the ends of a hand grip; and

[0017]FIG. 6 is a planar view showing an alternative hand grip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention and shows ahand grip 100 being a flexible pad about 5 inches square having a firstend 108, second end 110, top surface 102 and bottom surface 112. A firstmeans for securing is attached to the first end 108 and a second meansfor securing is attached to the second end 110.

[0019] In operation, a user wraps the hand grip 100 around a bar 202,e.g., an exercise bar shown in FIG. 2, such that the bottom surface 112of the flexible pad is in contact with the bar 202, and joins the firstend 108 with the second end 110 by connecting the first means forsecuring with the second means for securing. The hand grip 100 wrapsaround the bar 202 such that the first end 108 and the second end 110 ofthe hand grip 100 do not overlap each other. It is essential that thefirst end 108 of the hand grip 100 does not overlay or overlap thesecond end 110 and that the two ends 108, 110 join together so that thetop surface 102 is a continuous smooth surface around the bar 202.Typically, as shown on FIG. 4, a user will use two hand grips 100, onefor each hand, at a first point 402 and a second point 404 on a bar 202that correspond to the user's natural placement of his/her hands whenlifting.

[0020] The preferred means for securing the first end 108 and the secondend 110 of the hand grip 100 comprises notched teeth wherein both thefirst end 108 and the second end 110 interlock. In this embodiment, thefirst means for securing the first end 108 are a plurality of firstnotched teeth 114 a,b and first spaces 116 a-c that correspond to thepattern of the second notched teeth 104 a-c and second spaces 106 a-bthat comprise the second means for securing the second end 110. See FIG.2 and FIG. 5B. Specifically, the first notched teeth 114 a,b fit withinthe second spaces 106 a-b and the second notched teeth 104 a-c fitwithin the first spaces 116 a-c. The hand grip 100 is shown having twofirst notched teeth 114 a,b and three second notched teeth 104 a-c forconvenience purpose only. It would be readily apparent to design andmake the hand grip 100 of the present invention having any number offirst notched teeth 114 a-b and second notched teeth 106 a-c.

[0021] An alternative means for securing the first end 108 and thesecond end 110 of a hand grip 302 is shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5A whichcomprises two magnets. In this alternative embodiment, the first meansfor securing the first end 108 is a first magnet 304 and the secondmeans for securing the second end 110 is a second magnet 306. Therefore,in operation, when brought together the first magnet 304 and the secondmagnet 306 are magnetically sealed, thereby holding the hand grip 302 inplace around a bar 202.

[0022] In another alternative embodiment, the first means for securingthe first end 108 is a plurlaity of first magnets 502 and the secondmeans for securing the second end 110 is a plurality of second magnets504. There are preferably two or more first magnets 502 and secondmagnets 504, such as commercially available magnetic “nibbles.” Also,the second magnets 504 may be positioned on the outer surface of thesecond end 110 or may be recessed in one or more apertures in the secondend 110 such that when secured together, the first magnets 502 arehidden within the aperture(s) of the second end 110.

[0023] The hand grip 100 is described in terms of notched teeth andmagnets for convenience purpose only. It would be readily apparent toone of ordinary skill in the relevant art to secure the first end 108and the second end 110 of the flexible pad by any comparable means, suchas Velcro.

[0024] The hand grip 100 is made of a flexible material that can bendaround a bar. Also, the hand grip 100 is made of foam rubber or a gelcomposite such that the pressure applied by a user's hand is distributedthroughout the pad. The hand grip 100 can also be comprised of “sponge”like material as a means for cushioning the user's hand and alleviatingany hand pain when exercising.

[0025] In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, an alternative hand grip 600 mayhave a bottom surface 604 that is rough, or is otherwise textured, sothat the hand grip 600 does not slip out of place during its use on abar 202. Also, the top surface 602 of the hand grip 600 may feature anergonomic style of finger/palm shape to add comfort and control to theuser.

[0026] All references to materials and dimensions are for conveniencepurpose only. It would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill inthe relevant art to use comparable materials and dimensions when makinga hand grip 100.

CONCLUSION

[0027] While various embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed above, it should be understood that they have been presentedby way of example only, and not limitation. It will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims. Thus, the breadth and scopeof the present invention should not be limited by any of theabove-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only inaccordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable hand grip for use with a bar,comprising: a flexible pad having a first end, a second end, a topsurface, and a bottom surface; a first means for securing attached tosaid first end of said flexible pad; and a second means for securingattached to said second end of said flexible pad, wherein when saidflexible pad is wrapped around the bar, said first means for securing isjoined with said second means for securing such that said top surface ofsaid flexible pad provides a continuous smooth surface around the bar.2. The portable hand grip according to claim 1 , wherein said bottomsurface is textured.
 3. The portable hand grip according to claim 1 ,wherein said top surface has an ergonomic style of finger/palm shape. 4.The portable hand grip according to claim 1 , wherein said first meansfor securing is a first magnet and said second means for securing is asecond magnet such that when joined together, said first magnet ismagnetically joined with said second magnet.
 5. The portable hand gripaccording to claim 1 , wherein said first means for securing is one ormore first notched teeth and said second means for securing is two ormore second notched teeth such that when joined together, said firstnotched teeth interlock with said second notched teeth.
 6. The portablehand grip according to claim 1 , wherein said first means for securingis two or more first magnets and said second means for securing is twoor more second magnets such that when joined together, said firstmagnets are magnetically joined with said second magnets.
 7. Theportable hand grip according to claim 6 , wherein said first end has aplurality of apertures, each said aperture containing one said firstmagnet.
 8. The portable hand grip according to claim 1 , wherein saidfirst means for securing and said second means for securing is Velcro.9. The portable hand grip according to claim 1 , wherein said flexiblepad is selected from the group consisting of: rubber, foam, gelcomposite, and sponge material.
 10. The portable hand grip according toclaim 1 , wherein said flexible pad is about 5 inches square.
 11. Amethod for using a portable hand grip on a bar, said method comprisingthe steps of: a. wrapping a portable hand grip around the bar, saidportable hand grip being a flexible pad having a first end, a secondend, a top surface, and a bottom surface, a first means for securingattached to said first end of said flexible pad, and a second means forsecuring attached to said second end of said flexible pad, wherein saidbottom surface of said flexible pad is in contact with the bar; and b.joining said first means for securing said first end of said flexiblepad with said second means for securing said second end of said flexiblepad such that said top surface of said flexible pad provides acontinuous smooth surface around the bar.
 12. The method according toclaim 11 , further comprising the step of: c. removing said portablehand grip from the bar.
 13. The method according to claim 11 , whereinsaid first means for securing is a first magnet and said second meansfor securing is a second magnet, and said step (b) comprisesmagnetically joining said first magnet with said second magnet.
 14. Themethod according to claim 11 , wherein said first means for securing areone or more first notched teeth and said second means for securing aretwo or more second notched teeth, and said step (b) comprisesinterlocking said first notched teeth with said second notched teeth.15. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said first means forsecuring is two or more first magnets and said second means for securingis two or more second magnets, and said step (b) comprises magneticallyjoining said first magnets with said second magnets.
 16. The methodaccording to claim 11 , wherein said first means for securing and saidsecond means for securing is Velcro, and said step (b) comprisessecuring the Velcro.